Archive for July, 2012

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the UK Creative Industries reception at the Royal Academy of Arts in London on Monday. (Photo: Geoff Pugh/REUTERS)

The front page declares her “Kate the great.”

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, tops Vanity Fair’s annual best-dressed list. The September style issue of the magazine will be released next month.

The article also discusses how down to earth Kate and her husband, Prince William, truly are. The couple prefers “a life out of the spotlight” and enjoy walking their puppy, watching DVD box sets and making their own sausages and jams.

The article claims Kate’s schedule requires up to five clothing changes per day.

“And even though the bill for her couture and jewels was printed in the tabloids with raised eyebrows earlier this year—$55,000 for six months of duties—Kate defrays the cost by bargain-shopping,” the article says.

Zara Phillips rides her horse High Kingdom after receiving her silver medal during the Eventing Team Jumping equestrian event on Tuesday. (Photo: Eddie Keogh/REUTERS)

Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of the Queen, has taken silver at the Olympics.

The equestrian won the medal with Team GB during the eventing team jumping event.

It was particularly nice to see her mother, Princess Anne, present her and her teammates with their medals (Princess Anne was set to give out the medals, no matter who won).

“When you get one of these put around your neck … you realize everything was worth it,” Phillips said, Reuters reported. “It is amazing obviously to get it from your mum.”

It is the first time a member of the Royal family has won a medal at the Olympics, although Princess Anne did compete in equestrian events in the 1976 Montreal Games. As well, Zara’s father – Capt. Mark Phillips – won gold at the 1972 Munich Games (but he was not married Princess Anne at that point).

Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry were on hand to cheer on their cousin as she took the silver.

Zara, who rode High Kingdom, was one of 25 riders who made the individual jumping final at Greenwich Park. She placed eighth (up from 14th at the beginning of the day).

Germany won the gold for the team event. Canada was 13th.

Zara Phillips on High Kingdon clears a fence during the Eventing Jumping equestrian event on Tuesday. (Photo: Mike Hutchings/REUTERS)

The Queen (or rather, a stuntman playing her) jumps into the Olympic venue during Friday's opening ceremonies. (Photo: Mike Blake/REUTERS)

Just a few days ago, all the attention regarding the royals and the Olympics involved which sports Prince Harry, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, would attend. To be honest, it was a tad boring – there’s no surprise they’d attend at least a few events.

But after Friday’s opening ceremonies, the Queen is the talk of the Games.

She appeared as part of the ceremonies, in a video with actor Daniel Craig – who plays James Bond.

In it, he arrives at the palace and, while followed by two of the Queen’s corgis, makes his way to where the Queen is sitting. She makes him wait, before leading the way to the helicopter waiting outside. When she arrives at the Olympic venue, she skydives out of the helicopter to make her appearance at the ceremonies.

It was brilliant.

The fact that the Queen would agree to take part in the ceremonies in this way is pretty amazing. Most people would assume she’d arrive at her royal box and just give your infamous wave. But the whole pre-recorded skit was well done and, by the looks of headlines, well received.

Prince William, along with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry watch as Olympic torch bearer Wai-Ming Lee, left, hands over the flame to John Hulse during a visit to Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday. The Olympics get underway Friday. (Photo: Ian West/REUTERS)